AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Surrounded by the cozy trimmings of my living room, everything felt intensified. Between the soft glow of the Christmas lights, the flickering of the fireplace, and the way his gaze saw right to my soul, I never wanted this Christmas season to end.
This was the first Christmas since my brother and mom passed away where I felt like I could breathe again, that there was hope.
And that hope lived in love.
His fingers softly brushed away some curls from my shoulder. “I want you to know that I’m truly, deeply in love with you, Daisy. I know you’re about to meet my son, but I want you to know that our family can just keep growing.”
My mind raced as I nodded. With each new day, it felt like his family was growing, and the thought that he wanted me to be a part of it warmed me to my soul.
When Brielle arrived, a hurricane of insecurities flooded through me, and most of them I didn’t even realize had existed, but Hunter supported me, and I saw the sincerity in his eyes. We would make this work, no matter what the future held for us all.
“It’s always been you, Daisy. The moment I saw you when I came to Buttercup Lake last fall… I could barely think straight. And then when I hired you at the bar…” He shook his head. “I just knew you were the one.”
“All I wanted was a kiss,” I teased. “And now…”
“You’ve got a lot more than you bargained for.” We stood quietly, basking in the warmth of the fireplace, holding on to distant hopes and dreams.
“Are you ready to meet my son?”
“More than ready.”
We stood there, basking in the warmth of shared excitement and unspoken promises. The enchantment of Christmas wove around us, binding us together in a tapestry of hope and new beginnings.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Hunter
I let out a deep breath as Daisy glanced in my direction. We’d arrived at my house just in time. The caterers were working away in the kitchen. I looked over at Daisy as a cocktail of emotions swept through me. It was hard to fathom that today, my girlfriend, my parents, and my ex and her fiancé would be under the same roof, my roof, united by my son, the scrumptious, cooing bundle of joy I still couldn’t believe was mine.
The doorbell rang, and Daisy stepped closer as I opened it to see Nick, Brielle, and Amy holding Tate. The nanny’s eyes connected with mine, and I immediately held my son close.
A small gasp only I could hear escaped Daisy’s lips as her gaze locked onto Tate’s. Daisy’s expression lit up in a mixture of tenderness and admiration, and my heart actually swelled.
“It’s so good to see you again, Daisy.” Brielle gave her a quick air kiss on each side as Nick stepped forward to shake her hand.
“Thanks for lending my fiancée some boots. She’s already placed an order from Neiman Marcus.” He grinned as Daisy laughed.
“I’m just glad she didn’t go down along with the rest of her belongings.”
“Indeed.”
“Come on in,” Daisy said, taking over as I stared at my son.
I couldn’t wait for my parents to meet him. He definitely had more Knox in him than anything.
I followed behind my guests as Daisy poured them drinks and welcomed them to sit in the living room. Amy stayed behind, but Daisy insisted that she join the rest of us. That was what I loved about Daisy.
Quietly holding Tate, I watched Daisy come toward me, tentatively approaching us. But her gaze never left Tate’s as he cooed, staring at the ceiling and completely unaware of the pivotal moment unfolding.
"He's gorgeous," Daisy whispered. I could detect the overwhelming amount of emotion laced in her words. "Just like his father."
I chuckled. "He's got your charm already. I can tell he’s gleaming on every word you say.”
She grinned and rested her hand on my shoulder. “He’s gotta learn from the best.”
The doorbell rang, but my mom didn’t wait for anyone to answer it as she swept into my home, leaving my dad in the dust, standing on the stoop.
The moment my mom spotted me sitting on the couch, holding Tate, with Daisy behind me, tears brimmed her eyes. Maternal pride oozed from my mom as she walked toward us. My dad came behind her and shook his head slowly in awe.
